H7: Life Groups Are Community
Life Groups are community. Life Groups are the people you do life with. Life Groups hold you accountable and pray for you when you are struggling. Life Groups are also the people who bring you meals when you are sick, pray for you, and support you when you are grieving. Your Life Group celebrates with you when you experience a victory or a success. Life Groups are the people you have fun with. Life Groups are your first line of care and shepherding.
Throughout the month of August, we want to focus a bit on Life Groups and remind you why we think it is important to be part of a Life Group. It’s summer break, but throughout the month of August, groups will start up again. If you aren't in a group, now is the perfect time to get started in your own Life Group.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
One small part of Life Groups is working on projects together. Just last week, several Life Groups came together to make meals every day for the camp counselors from Pine Cove City. There were nearly 40 people to feed for these camps so feeding all those humans was no small task! Chris Oakes, FCC Life Group Director, issued his thanks when he sent an email out that said, “Thanks for taking the opportunity to bless our guests and to help minister to all the kids who will be at camp!”
For the last decade (or so), FCC has centered its message around the 7 Habits. Connect in a Small Group is Habit 3, and we see it as crucial for building healthy long-term relationships with other believers to create the God-designed environment for connection and care!
Finding that connection and care doesn’t happen automatically, however. It requires personal investment. As we often say at FCC, “You don’t stumble upon great Christian community; you create it.” We are striving to build a community of consistent connection that results in personal growth and care.
Life Groups are sermon-based and campus-specific small groups of 6-12ish people who meet weekly in participants’ homes for a time of building relationships, studying the Word of God, and praying for one another. These groups meet over two semesters (August thru November and January thru April.) Most groups take off in December and generally slow down during the summer. Although some groups have a Christmas party or hang out together during the summer on a more informal or less-frequent basis.
As we expand in size and location, it is unreasonable to think that one, or even a few pastors can meet the needs of so many, and Life Groups do so in the context and under the authority of local church leadership. The Campus Pastors are the local shepherds at each campus. They visit the Groups and meet regularly with Leaders and help equip them to ensure effective shepherding of members.
If you aren’t in a Group, please reach out so we can help you find a group! You can email Chris Oakes. And look out for more posts during the month of August and hear personal stories of how Life Groups become like family.
Throughout the month of August, we want to focus a bit on Life Groups and remind you why we think it is important to be part of a Life Group. It’s summer break, but throughout the month of August, groups will start up again. If you aren't in a group, now is the perfect time to get started in your own Life Group.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
One small part of Life Groups is working on projects together. Just last week, several Life Groups came together to make meals every day for the camp counselors from Pine Cove City. There were nearly 40 people to feed for these camps so feeding all those humans was no small task! Chris Oakes, FCC Life Group Director, issued his thanks when he sent an email out that said, “Thanks for taking the opportunity to bless our guests and to help minister to all the kids who will be at camp!”
For the last decade (or so), FCC has centered its message around the 7 Habits. Connect in a Small Group is Habit 3, and we see it as crucial for building healthy long-term relationships with other believers to create the God-designed environment for connection and care!
Finding that connection and care doesn’t happen automatically, however. It requires personal investment. As we often say at FCC, “You don’t stumble upon great Christian community; you create it.” We are striving to build a community of consistent connection that results in personal growth and care.
Life Groups are sermon-based and campus-specific small groups of 6-12ish people who meet weekly in participants’ homes for a time of building relationships, studying the Word of God, and praying for one another. These groups meet over two semesters (August thru November and January thru April.) Most groups take off in December and generally slow down during the summer. Although some groups have a Christmas party or hang out together during the summer on a more informal or less-frequent basis.
As we expand in size and location, it is unreasonable to think that one, or even a few pastors can meet the needs of so many, and Life Groups do so in the context and under the authority of local church leadership. The Campus Pastors are the local shepherds at each campus. They visit the Groups and meet regularly with Leaders and help equip them to ensure effective shepherding of members.
If you aren’t in a Group, please reach out so we can help you find a group! You can email Chris Oakes. And look out for more posts during the month of August and hear personal stories of how Life Groups become like family.